Quote:
UriYosef
You are kidding here, are you not? We can make the same argument for other numbers as well, for example 7, 12, & 13.


Actually, I was not kidding. :) Numbers are not simply mathematics, but stories (very short stories). To count=to tell (=to recount). (In dutch 'tellen'=to count and 'vertellen'=to tell). 'Three' is closely related to the Name of the Lord.

Quote:
Chaim
Is Jesus telling people of the Sanhedrin they will also see this vision?


Mr 14:62 And Jesus said, "I am; and ye shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming in the clouds of heaven."

Ac 7:56 and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."

There is contextual difference: Stephen is persecuted for his faith; the Sanhedrin (within this account) shows a total lack of faith. I think that is why the Son of man is 'sitting' (Sanhedrin) and in the other situation 'standing' (Stephen). Stephen is comforted by his vision: he sees a Lord at work, defending him; the Sanhedrin will see a Lord sitting upon his throne of Judgement. And they did see it when He came 'with the clouds of heaven', to judge the City and the peoples (Jewish people and the gentile nations).

Quote:
Chaim
If you've been keeping up with this thread, you'd see that Tacitus and Josephus wrote about Jewish belief being the same universally as today with respect to One God who is an absolute Unity. Jews today do not know of God existing as 3 persons and Tacitus and Josephus confirm that was the universal Jewish belief back then as well. Jesus is simply a god Jews never knew - no more than Zeus or Mithras.


I agree with your defense of the absolute Unity of God. The word 'person' may create some confusion. Trinity is about One Being (essence, nature, substance) and three 'hypostases' = underlying distinct expressions of identities: the Father (principle without principle), who spoke (=generated) His Word (light of light), and who breathed out His Spirit (brought forth). Again: because God is life/lifegiving, His expression (word and breath) is life and lifegiving. Therefore the Word and the Spirit of God must be 'distinct but fully co-operating operators'.

You understand? Pffh :D

"Jesus is a god Jews never knew."
If you say: "Jesus is a god..." in the same way as one would say: "Aad or Chaim, or Ceasar is a god..." I agree. You are skipping some other doctrines here.......

Aad